Nagaland allotted over 1 lakh tonne of coal

Representative Image: Coal being loaded into trucks near Assam-Nagaland border in Mokokchung Distict. (Morung File Photo)

Dimapur, March 2 (MExN): Nagaland has been allocated 1.02 lakh tonne of coal for the 2019-20 (up to January 1, 2020) period. Pralhad Joshi, Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs presented the figure in response to a starred question in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

The allocation was as per the guidelines of the New Coal Distribution Policy (NCDP), 2007 and routed via the State Nominated Agency— Nagaland State Mineral Development Corporation Ltd (NSMDCL) by the Coal India Limited. 

The NCDP provided for distribution of coal to small and medium industrial units with requirements of less than 4,200 tonne per annum and having no access to purchase coal or Fuel Supply Agreement (FSA) with coal companies. An amendment to the Policy in 2016 enhanced the cap to 10,000 tonne per annum.

In another reply to a query, he also informed that India has proven coal reserve of over 3,26,495 million tonne, of which Nagaland’s was estimated at 446.42 million tonne.